Maywood, Illinois (Chicago, Berwyn, Oak Park: high school, university, vouchers)

[promis1]

Originally Posted by meatpuff

http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=133 31&TM=13418.54
http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=134 96&TM=13418.54

The armed robberies continue in Oak Park. I don't have a good way to say how much or whether this is worse than usual. But doesn't violent street crime usually slow down when the weather gets too bitter to be on the street, as a rule?

The second article mentions problems in Austin. I tried to use the crime summaries at gis.chicagopolice.org to see if things are worse recently, and Austin has 1145 robberies in the last 365 days and 339 in the past 90. So the last 3 months have been out of proportion. Another way, that's 8.5X the median for Chicago community areas in the past 365 days and 11.7X the median in the last 90 (not normalized for population; Austin is easily the most populous area of the city). These show quite a busy time for Austin robberies, which doesn't help.

Also, six Green line robberies in Austin in 12 December days? Eesh. That has to constitute a crime wave, and probably of almost all OPers.

Hope it quiets down soon over there. Man, I thought Austin was already about as bad as it could get?

Austins crime has not peaked yet, due to many CHA projects being torn down. Many former project residents will end up living in this area- thru section 8- which will lead to higher crime and territory wars for gangs/drug dealing. Good luck Oak Park- the fun has just begun. And do not forget, Oak park itself will inherit some of that ghetto trash in their town thru section 8 vouchers. Oak park always wanted to have the model integrated town- and they have got it now. Sure did not help their high school so much. Good Luck Oak Park- you deserve everything that you asked for.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by meatpuff

http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=133 31&TM=13418.54
http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=134 96&TM=13418.54

The armed robberies continue in Oak Park. I don't have a good way to say how much or whether this is worse than usual. But doesn't violent street crime usually slow down when the weather gets too bitter to be on the street, as a rule?

The second article mentions problems in Austin. I tried to use the crime summaries at gis.chicagopolice.org to see if things are worse recently, and Austin has 1145 robberies in the last 365 days and 339 in the past 90. So the last 3 months have been out of proportion. Another way, that's 8.5X the median for Chicago community areas in the past 365 days and 11.7X the median in the last 90 (not normalized for population; Austin is easily the most populous area of the city). These show quite a busy time for Austin robberies, which doesn't help.

Also, six Green line robberies in Austin in 12 December days? Eesh. That has to constitute a crime wave, and probably of almost all OPers.

Hope it quiets down soon over there. Man, I thought Austin was already about as bad as it could get?

Wow, click on the first link that meatpuff provided regarding Oak parks crime in these cold winter days. Unbelievable, shooting- 3 armed robberies- tons of thefts. Sounds like a great place to raise a family. I am so tired of these out of touch liberals who continue to post threads on the greatness of this town- click on these links and see for yourself how the town is at a major risk. And to the fool that stated that he never locks his doors at his Oak Park home- Get real!

[Lookout Kid]

Know what other town is close to the Austin neighborhood? Elmwood Park.

Oak Park is pretty stable, and I don't expect any changes. Crime has been an issue there since the 1970s, and is actually still WAY lower than it was 20 years ago. For Oak Park crime to even reach the levels that existed in the 1980s would be almost impossible. Promis1 just has a chip on his shoulder about a village that will always have higher real estate values, more educated people, and better schools than his little working class burg to the north. Imagine the gall of that town actually allowing black residents to live there without burning crosses and mob action! How could they?!?

[Mister Mappy]

Isn't Elmwood Park turning Hispanic?

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Mister Mappy

Isn't Elmwood Park turning Hispanic?

Apparently so. And this is what has Promis1 so hot and bothered,

[johnm68]

promis1--you know, if you hate Oak Park so much, why don't you just stay out of it? It's not like anyone is forcing you to go there, or interact with its residents or have anything to do with the town. Obviously, a lot of people choose to live there and seem to like it. For the life of me, I can't understand why this would bother you.

[ajolotl]

Sometimes I regret not moving to Oak Park. Given how many people with money and other options choose to live there in spite of the occasional violent crime, I can only imagine that it's overall an extremely cool place to live and raise kids. I imagine with 500-600K i could do ok there in the current market. When I was looking a few years ago it unfortunately wasn't quite enough.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I imagine with 500-600K i could do ok there in the current market. When I was looking a few years ago it unfortunately wasn't quite enough.

I depends on what you want. There are at least a few smaller nicely rehabbed houses going for $350,000 east of Ridgeland. I've known multiple people who have lived in this supposed forbidden zone, and they actually love it.

[ajolotl]

That's pretty good. I have no problem at all with that location. I do though have somewhat particular tastes with regard to the architecture of the house, particularly regarding how the updates were done, and I wanted 4 (preferably 5) bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kids play room, and not to be squashed next to my neighbors. My wife also doesn't like bungalows. What we wanted tended to be minimum 700K+ in Oak Park, maybe 20% cheaper in Beverly. Both places have an incredible housing stock if you're a fan of older architecture. Oak Park has much more commerce, though. Beverly is unfortunately sleepier (but picking up a bit).

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I depends on what you want. There are at least a few smaller nicely rehabbed houses going for $350,000 east of Ridgeland. I've known multiple people who have lived in this supposed forbidden zone, and they actually love it.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by johnm68

promis1--you know, if you hate Oak Park so much, why don't you just stay out of it? It's not like anyone is forcing you to go there, or interact with its residents or have anything to do with the town. Obviously, a lot of people choose to live there and seem to like it. For the life of me, I can't understand why this would bother you.

Not telling you what to do but if you don't want to see posters like promis1 flourish, you won't respond to his/her posts. My guess is she lives in town that is seeing an influx of lower income minority residents, doesn't have the financial means to move to a more affluent community and feels (correctly) that she wouldn't fit in even if she could, is thus bitter, and is thus lashing out against minorities on a message board.

You only add fuel to the fire by responding because you're not arguing within a rational construct. You will only invite more posts like those above.